Image processing method and apparatus for reducing image degradation

Abstract

This invention relates to an image processing method and apparatus and particularly solves problems of image degradation in multi-generation copying (copying, using a previous copy output as an original). A generation copy mode is provided in addition to the normal copy mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image processing apparatus comprising: a) input means for scanning an original image and generating image data;   b) processing means for processing the image data generated by said input means; and   c) output means for forming a reproduction image in accordance with the image data processed by said processing means,   wherein, in a first mode said input means scans a first original image and generates first image data, said processing means processes the first image data by using a first processing parameter and said output means forms a first reproduction image, and   in a second mode, said input means scans the first reproduction image formed by said output means and generates second image data, said processing means processes the second image data by using a second processing parameter and is suitable for processing the second image data generated by said input means, and said output means forms a second reproduction image.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input means comprises an image reader having a CCD sensor. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing means performs density correction of the input image data. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing means performs color correction of the input image data. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing means performs conversion of spatial frequency characteristics of the input image data. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output means includes a plurality of ports for ejecting ink, and heat energy generating means, formed in correpsondance with said plurality of ports, for causing a state change by ink heating, ejecting the ink from each of said plurality of ports on the basis of the state change, and forming at least one flying liquid droplet. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output means includes means for forming a latent image on a photosensitive body and developing the latent image by using a recording agent. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second mode is a generation copy mode. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first mode is a normal copy mode. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing means includes section means for manually selecting said first mode or said second mode. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing means includes memory means for storing said first processing parameter and said second processing parameter. 
     
     
       12. An image processing method comprising the steps of: a) scanning an original image and generating image data;   b) processing the generated image data; and   c) forming a reproduction image in accordance with the processed image data,   wherein, in a first mode, first image data which is generated by scanning a first original image is processed by using a first processing parameter and a first reproduction image is formed in accordance with the processed first data, and   in a second mode, second image data which is generated by scanning the first reproduction image is processed by using a second processing parameter, which is different from the first processing parameter and is suitable for processing the second image data obtained from the first reproduction image and a second reproduction image is formed in accordance with the processed second image data.   
     
     
       13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of manually selecting the first mode or the second mode. 
     
     
       14. A method according to claim 12, wherein said processing step uses a memory which stores the first processing parameter and the second processing parameter. 
     
     
       15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the image data is input by an image reader having a CCD. 
     
     
       16. A method according to claim 12, wherein processing step further comprises the step of performing density correction of the input image data. 
     
     
       17. A method according to claim 12, wherein processing step further comprises the step of performing color correction of the input image data. 
     
     
       18. A method according to claim 12, wherein said processing step further comprises the step of converting spatial frequency characteristics of the input image data. 
     
     
       19. A method according to claim 12, wherein the second mode is a generation copy mode. 
     
     
       20. A method according to claim 12, wherein the first mode is a normal copy mode. 
     
     
       21. An image processing apparatus comprising: a) input means for inputting image data;   b) processing means for processing the image data input by said input means;   c) output means for forming an image in accordance with the image data processed by said processing means; and   d) setting means for setting a first mode for setting a first process parameter suitable for a first condition which satisfies D 1  <D 2  and a second mode for setting a second process parameter suitable for a second condition which satisfies D 1  ≃D 2 , where D 1  is a maximum recording density which said output means is able to form and D 2  is a maximum original density corresponding to a maximum value of the processed image data.   
     
     
       22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said input means comprises an image reader constituted by a CCD sensor. 
     
     
       23. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said processing means performs density correction of the input image data. 
     
     
       24. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said processing means performs color correction of the input image data. 
     
     
       25. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said processing means performs conversion of spatial frequency characteristics of the input image data. 
     
     
       26. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said output means includes a plurality of ports for ejecting ink, and heat energy generating means, formed in correpsondance with said plurality of ports, for causing a state change by ink heating, ejecting the ink from each of said plurality of ports on the basis of the state change, and forming at least one flying liquid droplet. 
     
     
       27. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said output means includes means for forming a latent image on a photosensitive body and developing the latent image by using a recording agent. 
     
     
       28. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the second mode is a generation copy mode. 
     
     
       29. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the first mode is a normal copy mode. 
     
     
       30. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein D 1  is not more than 1.8. 
     
     
       31. An image processing apparatus comprising: a) input means for inputting image data representing an original image;   b) processing means for processing the image data input by said input means;   c) output means for forming a reproduction image in accordance with the image data processed by said processing means; and   d) memory means for storing at least a first parameter for optimizing a resolution to obtain first output image data from first input image data and a second parameter which is different from the first parameter for optimizing a resolution to obtain second output image data from the first output image data as second input image data.   
     
     
       32. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said input means comprises an image reader having a CCD sensor. 
     
     
       33. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said processing means performs density correction of the input image data. 
     
     
       34. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said processing means performs color correction of the input image data. 
     
     
       35. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said processing means performs conversion of spatial frequency characteristics of the input image data. 
     
     
       36. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said output means includes a plurality of ports for ejecting ink, and heat energy generating means, formed in correpsondance with said plurality of ports, for causing a state change by ink heating, ejecting the ink from each of said plurality of ports on the basis of the state change, and forming at least one flying liquid droplet. 
     
     
       37. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said output means includes means for forming a latent image on a photosensitive body and developing the latent image by using a recording agent. 
     
     
       38. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the second mode is a generation copy mode. 
     
     
       39. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the first mode is a normal copy mode. 
     
     
       40. An image processing apparatus comprising: a) input means for inputting image data;   b) processing means for processing the image data input by said input means;   c) output means for outputting the image data processed by said processing means; and   d) memory means for storing a parameter for minimizing a color difference between first input image data and first output image data when the first output image data is to be obtained from the first input image data and a parameter for minimizing a color difference between second input image data and second output image data when the second output image data is to be obtained from the first output image data as the second input image data.   
     
     
       41. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said input means comprises an image reader having a CCD sensor. 
     
     
       42. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said processing means performs density correction of the input image data. 
     
     
       43. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said processing means performs color correction of the input image data. 
     
     
       44. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said processing means performs conversion of spatial frequency characteristics of the input image data. 
     
     
       45. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said output means includes a plurality of ports for ejecting ink, and heat energy generating means, formed in correspondence with said plurality of ports, for causing a state change by ink heating, ejecting the ink from each of said plurality of ports on the basis of the state change, and forming at least one flying liquid droplet. 
     
     
       46. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said output means includes means for forming a latent image on a photosensitive body and developing the latent image by using a recording agent. 
     
     
       47. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the first mode is a generation copy mode. 
     
     
       48. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the second mote is a normal copy mode. 
     
     
       49. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the parameters are calculated by a method of least squares.